Determinant Factors of Women’s Participation in Functional Adult Literacy Programme in Bahir Dar Zuria Woreda, North West Ethiopia

Abstract

Functional Adult Literacy Programme has a central role to play in boosting the social, economical and political development of the country in general and the beneficiaries in particular. It is apparent that the government of Ethiopia makes tremendous efforts to reduce the rate of illiteracy and enhance new skills to improve standard of living for adult learners through Functional Adult Literacy programme in the country. Nevertheless, studies and reports show that literacy rate and participation of women in Functional Adult Literacy Programme across location are insignificant in magnitude. Therefore, the aim of the present study was designed to identify factors affecting women’s participation in functional adult literacy related to socio-demographic and organizational factors at Bahir Dar Zuria Woreda, North West Ethiopia. Quantitative research approach with descriptive survey research design was employed. About 184 registered women were selected from 3 rural kebeles of Literacy Centers through simple random sampling with lottery techniques by taking their names from the total number of registered women. Descriptive statistics, univariate and multiple binary logistic regression analyses were used to determine the effect of factors on the outcome variable and to control possible confounders. Statistical tests were done at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed that 65 (35.3%) and 119 (64.7%) of respondents were participant and non-participant women in Functional Adult Literacy Centers respectively. Results on multiple logistic regression provided that married women (AOR = 0.135 [95% CI: 0.024 - 0.758]) and divorced women (AOR = 0.054 [95% CI: 0.006 - 0.529]) both relative to widowed women; high work load (AOR = 3.326 [95% CI: 1.261 - 8.768]) relative to low work load; and class schedule conflict (AOR = 8.009 [95% CI: 3.190 - 20.11]) relative to no class schedule conflict have significant association. Local government body in collaboration with Adult Education Bureau is recommended to provide massive awareness creation about gender equality for adult learners and the local communities.